Payments of €46.6 million to 27,200 farmers under the 2020 Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) have, today, commenced, Minister Charlie McConalogue has confirmed.
This is the latest supportive measure for the beef and suckler sectors carried out by the DAFM in recent times.
As well as the BFP issuing today, €6m in funding has been secured for the marketing and branding of a suckler-based brand.
Also, a further €85m has been secured as part of Budget 2021 to support sustainable beef farming. Measures include €40m for the rollover of the BDGP, a further €40m for BEEP and €5m for a calf weighing scheme.
These come on top of the €76m BEAM scheme issued in 2019 and the first BDGP scheme which concluded recently.
‘Helped provide a floor’ to autumn mart trade
The Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine said, “This support provides a valuable income support and helps mitigate the economic impact for those farmers who finished cattle when prices were under particular pressure as a result of COVID-19 earlier this year.”
“Beef farming is an important economic activity, with a significant multiplier effect in local rural communities, and thus is more important than ever in sustaining these communities as we work towards economic recovery.”
“We have seen the benefits of the Beef Finisher Payment. It delivers direct financial supports to our country’s finishers, who were adversely affected by COVID-19.”
“I also believe the Beef Finisher Payment has helped provide a floor to the mart trade this autumn. The scheme has assisted beef finishers in purchasing weanlings and store animals which has, in turn, supported our suckler farmers.”
“It is the belief of this Government that we need a well-supported beef sector because of the many benefits the sector has on our society and economy. My Department and I stand ready to continue to support our beef and suckler farmers into the future,” he concluded.
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